how should i sprout?

[itsraininbuds]

doing a pineapple chunk seed in DWC and im wondering should i use rockwool or can i sprout it in coco? i only ask because i have a bunch of coco soil. willbe using hydroton for the DWC.

 

[John Jacob]

if your going dwc then use rockwool, much easier transition too hydroton.. once a good set of roots form pop the cube into a net pot and cover with hydroton so night light can get to the roots

 

[HSA]

Rainin': there are a lot of ways to propagate seeds. In the June 2011 issue of "HIGH TIMES," they did an excellent article on the different ways to start seeds. What ever you do, start them in what you plan to grow them in. I gave up on the damp paper towel in a plastic baggie method after a couple of tap roots on $10 seeds broke in transplanting.

For hydro I've done it in rock wool and various brands of grow plugs that I eventually transplanted into Hydroton. Brans like Rapid Rooter or Jiffy plugs end up costing you about fifty cents a piece and they give your plants a good start. Just plan on buying some little white plastic net pot covers to protect what you start your seeds in from mold and mildew. I hope that helps. HSA

 

[Stonefree69]

Just soak them for 24 hours in RO or distilled water (or tap water that sat for 24 hours). They should mostly all sink after you "tap" the ones floating after 12 hours or so.
After 24 hours you should see a tap root just forming. Then just plant them maybe 1/4" or so pointy side down (tap root forming down in a Rapid Rooter plug). I use Rapid Rooter
plugs in a 6" tall domed tray (Hydrofarm kit) under 6500k T5 fluorescents. Many report the germination rate going thru the roof. And don't use paper towels as the tiny
roots you don't see can "rip" out on the paper towel when you go to plant the sprouted seedlings.

I take the Rapid Rooter and go straight to 8-10" net pots (or a double bucket system). There is hardly any transplant shock throughout the grow from start to finish. I 1st use
3 gallon buckets then switch to 5-15 gallon buckets depending if I want shrubs or small trees. After putting them into the net pots I like to use a drip ring 15 minutes on every
4 hours or you can use a Waterfarm ring too or even hand water them every now & then or just have a 1/2" hose dripping on them. I like to keep the water level at least touching
the net pots (or even higher when I start seeds).

So many I have seen in forums have switched to Rapid Rooters and haven't looked back at rockwool.

 

[itsraininbuds]

thanks peoples. tons of help!!!

 

[Po boy]

sorry for the double post.

 

[Po boy]

Rainin': there are a lot of ways to propagate seeds. In the June 2011 issue of "HIGH TIMES," they did an excellent article on the different ways to start seeds. What ever you do, start them in what you plan to grow them in. I gave up on the damp paper towel in a plastic baggie method after a couple of tap roots on $10 seeds broke in transplanting.
HSA

i agree with this method; less handling. GL

 

[itsraininbuds]

Just soak them for 24 hours in RO or distilled water (or tap water that sat for 24 hours). They should mostly all sink after you "tap" the ones floating after 12 hours or so.
After 24 hours you should see a tap root just forming. Then just plant them maybe 1/4" or so pointy side down (tap root forming down in a Rapid Rooter plug). I use Rapid Rooter
plugs in a 6" tall domed tray (Hydrofarm kit) under 6500k T5 fluorescents. Many report the germination rate going thru the roof. And don't use paper towels as the tiny
roots you don't see can "rip" out on the paper towel when you go to plant the sprouted seedlings.

I take the Rapid Rooter and go straight to 8-10" net pots (or a double bucket system). There is hardly any transplant shock throughout the grow from start to finish. I 1st use
3 gallon buckets then switch to 5-15 gallon buckets depending if I want shrubs or small trees. After putting them into the net pots I like to use a drip ring 15 minutes on every
4 hours or you can use a Waterfarm ring too or even hand water them every now & then or just have a 1/2" hose dripping on them. I like to keep the water level at least touching
the net pots (or even higher when I start seeds).

So many I have seen in forums have switched to Rapid Rooters and haven't looked back at rockwool.

so i can put the rapid rooter into hydroton?